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Lisa Harper lived lavishly in 2006, buying a $675,000 house in Dublin and a new Cadillac
Escalade for $66,980.

Her 2006 federal tax return, however, didn’t jibe with that lifestyle. In fact, it listed her
income that year as $8,003. Her returns listed even-lower incomes two years before and three years
after 2006.

Yesterday, the 49-year-old former Dublin woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one
count of tax evasion.

“Harper’s reported income is grossly inconsistent with her lifestyle as documented,” an Internal
Revenue Service complaint says. It adds that no other source of income was found that could “
account for Harper’s lifestyle.”

An IRS investigation concluded that Harper lied from at least 2006 through 2009 about her income
from Westpointe Video Games, a Far West Side store she operated. By reconstructing credit-card and
online payment records, investigators concluded that Harper made $136,196 to $246,618 each of those
years.

A bill of information filed in court says she owes $199,950 in back taxes. A plea agreement
lists that amount as the proposed restitution Harper would owe.

In addition to her storefront, she sold her products through Amazon, eBay and the Rainbow Flea
Market.

She could be sentenced on each count to a maximum of five years in prison and ordered to pay a
$250,000 fine, as well as restitution. She was released on bond. A date for sentencing has not been
set.

David F. Axelrod, Harper’s attorney, said she lives in Chicago now and works as a pet
groomer.

“Lisa Harper is a good person who has accepted responsibility for her mistakes,” Axelrod
said.

Harper was convicted last year in Franklin County Common Pleas Court of receiving stolen
property after she was accused of stealing DVDs, video games, gift cards and other property from
Meijer and Target in 2009 and 2010. She sold the items in her store, according to court
records.

She was sentenced to two years of probation and must pay $2,920 in restitution and perform 300
hours of community service.